Chapter 88: Reaping What You Sow

Because she was afraid of being noticed, she didn’t bother to greet anyone inside the house.

Anyway, they had already paid the money this morning, so they could just take the person away as agreed beforehand.

After the two took Zhao Xiaomei away on their backs, Luo Qiao also left the Zhao family through the back door. She circled around and returned to the front yard again, thinking that she had also taken 30 cents gift money.

Moreover, if she didn’t show up, it would only raise suspicions among the villagers. Coincidentally, she met Feng Qiaohui, the second daughter-in-law of the captain, at the Zhao family’s gate and they entered the courtyard together.

Luo Qiao didn’t find Gao Suhua in the courtyard, guessing she was still waiting for news from Zhao Xiaomei in that room. Well, she could wait.

Luo Qiao followed Feng Qiaohui and found a table that wasn’t fully occupied. Just as the dishes arrived, she realized how chaotic the seating was. The food disappeared within moments of being served, a scene Luo Qiao had never witnessed before.

This wasn’t a regular feast; it was clearly a scramble for food. All Luo Qiao managed to get was a plain steamed bun. She couldn’t help but shake her head and smile, finding it hard to adapt to such a frenzied dining atmosphere.

After finishing a bowl of vegetable soup and the steamed bun, the table dispersed. As Luo Qiao walked out with Feng Qiaohui, she noticed the woman who had deceived her earlier heading towards the backyard.

Luo Qiao sneered disdainfully, then exited through the Zhao family’s main gate with Feng Qiaohui. It seemed the Zhao family would face the consequences of their actions later today, which promised to be quite dramatic.

—

Meanwhile, at the Luo family residence in Ji City, the eldest son Luo Tao walked in from outside. Due to his long travels without drinking water, his lips were chapped.

But at this moment, he couldn’t care less about these things. He hurriedly entered his own house and saw his father, Luo Tiancheng, asking, “Dad, let me ask you, did someone help us with the matter of returning to the city?”

Luo Tiancheng looked up in surprise at his eldest son and said, “Why do you ask?”

Luo Tao replied, “I just heard from Mr. Wang on the street over there. He said the procedures for our return to the city were arranged by someone in the capital city. That’s why we were able to be cleared and return so quickly.”

Luo Tiancheng said, “That’s impossible. We don’t have any relatives or friends in the capital city.”

Luo Tao continued, “Dad, think again. Could it be that Grandpa has some friends we don’t know about? I wanted to inquire further, but that official didn’t seem to know much more.”

Luo Tiancheng thought for a while but still couldn’t figure it out. He shook his head and said, “Our family shouldn’t have any relatives or friends in the capital city. Something is fishy here. Who would help us without leaving their name?”

Luo Tao suggested, “Dad, why don’t you ask your second uncle? Maybe he knows something.”

When mentioning the second uncle, he thought of his cousin Luo Bin and felt annoyed, “Dad, Luo Bin is really the second uncle’s son, always loafing around. He’s practically become a joke in our area.”

Luo Tiancheng replied, “I’m not sure about this either. If second uncle and second Aunt say so, then it must be.”

Just then, their eldest daughter-in-law Qiao Juan walked out. She had heard the entire conversation between father and son. She poured a glass of water and handed it to her son, saying, “Quick, have some water first. Look at how chapped your lips are.”

Luo Tao took the water and said, “Thanks, Mom.”

Qiao Juan remarked, “I really don’t understand what our second brother and his wife are thinking, bringing back that troublemaker. All they do is cause trouble and nothing else. If Luo Qiao were here, at least she could help with some chores.

After another year or two, we could even receive some bride price and support our family. But now, it’s different. We have fewer workers and have brought back someone who eats without contributing much and has a bad temper.

He even keeps threatening to return to Qingshan Village, but our second brother and his wife pamper him. I really admire them. Tiancheng, now that both of our families are stable, should we consider dividing the household?”